low signal

[martidoh]

Having trouble. I am running Cakewalk 9 on Win2K on an Athlon 900 khz, with soundblaster live card. running a Rode NT1 and AKG C1000S into the card through a Rolls power supply. The rec level is extremely low even when I have line-in cranked. This did not happen with the onchip sound card! Also, when I sing close to the Rode mic it cuts out. What could be the cause?

 

[Krakit]

The "cutting out" sounds like you're clipping or else engaging the built in pop filter. Probably due to boosting everything as high as it will go and then getting lots of proximity with your mic. What's the duration of the "cut out"?

As for the low levels, it sounds like a defective card or else a mislabled input. Maybe your mics aren't getting phantom power.

Anyone else want to try?

 

[martidoh]

can't figure it out

by mislabeled input do you mean on the sound card or on the phantom power? both are brand new and i've tried the "mic" in on the soundcard with terrible results.
the phantom power is on alright, and i even tried the AKG with a 9V battery, but same result. trying to isolate the defective part of the loop is not giving me a result! the cable, the XLR to 1/4" adapter, the 1/4 to 1/8...
then, i run the mics through my tascam 4-track and pump up the trim there, i get the voume alright but also lots of hiss and high frequencies, not at all natural. same as if i pushed up the volume of the clip in SoundForge or somesuch.
thanks for the idea!
martin

 

[martidoh]

duration of the cutout

sorry, forgot to answer thisone - it's about 6 to 10 seconds, then the mic allows gradually more of a level through until it's back to normal (although right now normal isn't what it was two days ago)

 

[Krakit]

Hmmmmmm

Seems like you've got a lot of adapter type connections there.

XLR to phono, 1/4" to 1/8" et al.

I'm wondering, are any of these cables or phono jacks stereo?

 

[Krakit]

That gradual return to life sounds like either the circuitry is flakey or some kind of failsafe protection has been brought to bear (like a fuse that resets itself).

Either way, it dosen't sound good.

 

[martidoh]

radio shack

yeah, i made sure to buy stereo 1/4 to 3.5mm connectors at RS, and the XLR to 1/4" connectors I've been using for months with no trouble.

the circuit you mention - would that be in the microphone itself, or in the power supply?

also, a little back you mention taht something must be cranked way high? where do you mean>?

thanks

 

[Krakit]

Tell me more about the Rolls power supply.

It dosen't sound like a mic preamp to me because you mention using an XLR to phono adpater.

The circuitry I was talking about is in the mic.

Do either mics have roll off?

 

[martidoh]

roll off?

thanks, but what is roll off?